Schaffner lauded by National Meningitis Foundation

The National Meningitis Association (NMA) is naming William Schaffner, M.D., professor and chair of Preventive Medicine, as the 2013 recipient of its Health Achievement Award.

William Schaffner, M.D.

NMA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating families, medical professionals and others about meningitis. Schaffner, an expert in vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccine-related public policy, got involved in public health in the 1960s when he worked on a campaign to ensure all children received the “new” measles vaccine.

The measles vaccine campaign inspired Schaffner to play a critical role in educating the public by translating the science of immunization into passionate messages that help people of all ages understand why vaccines matter.

The NMA noted that Schaffner’s work “has elevated awareness about the importance of vaccines across the lifespan among both professional and public audiences, and these efforts have been invaluable in helping to protect adolescents from meningococcal disease.”

Schaffner also recently received the Nashville Business Journal’s 2013 Health Care Hero Award for Lifetime Achievement.